Evening and grading machine



April 3, 192s.

G. L. SMITH EVENING ND GRADING MACHINE INI/NTR.

. 4. Q/ATTomY April 3, 1928. 1,664,645

G. L. SMITH EVENING AND GRADING` MACHINE Filed Feb.7. 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 y INVENToR.

C/ -v 15 '.f/4 ATTORNEY.

April 3, 1928. n 1,664,645

G. L. SMITH EVENING AND GRADING MACHINE Filed Fehn?, 1923 8 Sheets$heet 3 v' INVENTOR.

Wawy

April 3; 192s.

G. L. sMlTH EVENING AND GRADING ICHINE Filed Febuz, 192.3-v 8'Sheets-Sheet 4 A INVENTOR.

April 3, 192s. G L SMITH EVENl-NG AND GRADING IACHINE Filed Feb v, 192s a sheets-sheet 5 A 0 lf///// g L LQ.

f L: Q l 'f L gg J- l y s Q V x i- X a QW y: INVENTOR.

f ATTORNEY.

April 3, 1928.

G. L. SMITH EVENING` lNND GRADING uAcuINE Filed YFeb.'1." 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jal WEITTORNEY.

, April 3,1928. l 1,664,645

G. L. SMITH EVENING AND GRADING MACHINE AFiled Feb.v. 192s 8 sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

April` a, 192s.

G.. L. SMITH EVENING AND GRADING MACHINE Filed Feb.7, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet. 8

IN VEN TOR.

. 7 ATTORNEY.

n Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

GEoEGE L. SMITH, E MANCHESTER, EEW- HAMPSHIRE.

iEVENING ANI) GRADING MACHINE.

Application filed February 7, `1923. Serial 110,617,521.

rlhis invention relates to machines for measuring` the thickness of pieces of sheet stock, such as-heel lifts, cut soles, and the like, and marking,'evening, or ldistributing suchfpieceszin accordance with thethickness `determinations made by the measuring mechanism.

lt is now the usual practice to evenand .grade heel'lifts--and cut solespriorto incorporating these parts in a shoe. vThis operation is'usually performed in` what is known as an evening and gradingmachine'and such .a machine comprises a' mechanism for determining variations in'thickness in each individual piece of stock, and means for skiv- `ingthe stock to substantially the thickness lof the thinnest portion foundv by said meas- .nring mechanism. Such avmachine usually 'includes also someimeans forwgrading the pieces of stock so skived, this grading operation usually consisting either in marking a grade designation on each piece of stock, or in so distributing pieces o f stock that the pieces having` substantially the same thickness will be throwninto a giv-en bin orcontainer.

The presentinvention Willbe herein disclosed as embodied in a machine which automatically feels `for the thinnest spot in a given area of stock, skives the'stock to a thickness equal to that ofV said thinnest spot, and then distributes the pieces of stock so acted :upon in accordance with their final thicknesses. Jlhe'invention has for'its chief object to devise a machine of the general character above indicated which will be more accurate than machines of this type previously proposed, 'will operate'more rapidly` than prior machines, and will generally be an improvement on machines of this kcharacter as heretofore constructed.

'The nature of the invention will be readily understood from'the following description when read in connection with; the accompanying drawings, and the' novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. l

Referring non' to the drawings,

YFigure 1'is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance With'the present invention; y

Fi g. 2 is a vplan View of the machine shown in 1; .f

'3 is vaffrontelevation of the-machine shown inFigs. 1 and 2, certain of'the'parts l'which preferably `ing mechanism; and Y view of a part of the r pieces of stock.

tioned. l

-ofthe casing being broken away to illustrate the mechanism enclosed therein;

, Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view on the line i- 4, Fig. 2;

Y '.Fig. l5 is a vert-ical cross sectional View on the line v5---5, Fig. 3; f

Fig. k6 is a. plan view of the magazine in vwhich the heel lifts are stacked;

Figa 7 is aside elevation of the magazine; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of a distributing mechanism with which the machine may be equipped;

g 'Figp9 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig-8; i

Fig. 10 is a. side elevation of-another part of Vthe distributing mechanism;

:Figa 11 is a. plan vienT showingV the manner in which thelfeelers 'or presser feet act ona heel lift;v Y

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional View on the line'12--12;`Fig. 1,1;

Fig; 18 is a side elevation ofthe bucket is used in the distribut- Figflgiis an end distributing` mechanism.

vrIlle machine shown comprises -a lmagazine in Which'a supply of heel lifts or other pieces of stocklto be operated upon is held,

a feeder that feeds such pieces ofv stock one at a timeout of themagazine, a feeler mechanism to-Which the pieces of stock are delivered by the feeder and which detects the thinnest portion in a given area of the stock, vanda skivingfmechanism which evens the Suitable connections are provided between the skiving mechanism and the feeler .mechanism so that the skiving `mechanismreduces the stock to the thickness of the thinnest portion acted upon by the feelers. A distributing mechanism under the control Vof the feeler mechanism then distributes the skived pieces of stock to containers7 each container receiving only pieces, of stock of a given thickness. lThe detailed vdescription of thc several mechanisms of the machine Will be taken up in substantially the order in vwhich they have just been men- Thel machine shown is ydesigned especially to handle leather lifts from Which heels are built, and consequently it 'includes a magazine adapted to lhold a` stack 'offthese heel lifts. Referring more especially to Figs. 4.-, V6 and 7;.it will be seen thatthemagazine comprises a frame Awhich includes base pieces 2-2 and an upright front 3. This front 3 is slotted and has ways formed in it to receive slides 5 and 6, Fig. 4, which are secured to a thin vertical bar 7 that engages the stack of lifts L, Fig. 6, at one side thereof and` near the breast corners of the lifts. Another bar 8 similarly affords lateral support for the opposite side of said stack and is secured to upper and lower slides like the slides 5 and 6. One of the former slides is shown at 9. The breast edges of the lifts L are supported by bars that form a part of the front 3 of the magazine. For the purpose of adjusting the two pairs of slides toward and from each other, the upper slides 5 and 9 are mounted on reversely threaded portions of a screw threaded shaft 12, while the lower slides are mounted on a similar shaft 13. Consequently, when these shafts vare turned, the side bars 7 and 8 are moved toward or from each other, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shafts. The two shafts 12 and 13 have bevel gear connections with a vertical shaft 14, Fig. 7, and the upper shaft 12 carries a hand wheel 15 by means of which it may be rotated to adjust the bars 7 and 8.

The rearward edges'of the lifts L are supported by a V-shaped plater or bar 16 secured to a plate 17 which is adjustable backward or forward in ways formed in the base pieces 2-2 Two inclined pieces 18 and 19 are secured in the lower part ofthe bar .16 where they tend to crowd the lifts forward as the lifts drop vinto the lower part of the magazine. The entire magazine is Secured to a horizontal table or plate 20 which forms a part of the machine frame and is rigidly secured to thel other frame members.

The mechanism for feeding the lifts out of the magazine comprises a feed slide 22, best shown in Fig. 4, mounted to reciprocate in a horizontal way formed in parts that are secured rigidly to the table 20. .A feed dog 23 is pivoted to the slide 22 and 'is normally held :in a raised position by means of a spring 24, it being understood that the table 20 is slotted to permit the dogto project therethrough. For the purpose of recipro# cating the feed slide 22, it is pivoted to the upper end of a lever 25 which is fulcrumed at 26 and has a guideway formed therein to receive a block 27 which is mounted von v a pin 28 projecting from the face of the gear 30. This gear is secured fast on a shaft 31 and meshes with a pinion 32 secured .on a horizontal shaft 33 which projects through the machine from one side to the other, (see Fig. 2). This'is the main driving shaft of the machine and it carries a pulley 34 by means of which it may be belted to any convenient source of power.

i As the feed dog 23 is moved forward by the mechanism just described, the hook on said dog engages the rearward edge of the bottommost lift in the magazine and cai'- ries this lift forward out of the magazine. The dog preferably is made double, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that it engages the edge of the. lift at points on opposite sides vof its median line. There is some tendency for the lift next above the bottommost lift to move forward with the latter lift, and in order to eifectually prevent the feeding of two lifts at a time, the magazine is provided with a. gate 36, Fig. 4, which extends down to a point closely adjacent to the upper sui'- face ofthe table 20. This gate is pivoted at its upper edge, and springs, one `of which is shown at 38, Fig. 7, act on the gate at its opposite ends to hold it yieldingly in its vertical or closed position. These springs' are anchored to horizontal arms 37 -37 Figs.

6 and 7, Vwhich are pivoted at 39-39 to vopposite sidesof the magazine base.- The gate 36 is pivoted to these arms 37.-37 at 40, and in addition to having a pivotal movement it can also have an up and down movement due to the connection just described. It is normally held down, however, by means of one or more spring pressed plungers 42. Fig. 4,

which bear on the upper edge of the gate,

The feeding mechanism above described carries the bottoininost lift of leather out of the magazine and presents it to the feeler mechaare arranged in right and left groups, as

shown in Figs. 3 and 11, the two groups acting on opposite margins of the' lift. Each feeler, as best shown in Fig. 3, is connected by two links 45-45 tothe shank vof an L- shaped bracket 46 so that it can move freely up and down but cannot tip. VTwo such brackets 46 vare provided, one supporting each group of feelers, and the two brackets are secured to a plate 47 by meansof bolts passing through slots in the plate so that the two groups of feelers may be adjusted toward or from each other. Eaclrfeeler is means of a spring 48 which is interposed between a shoulder on the feeler and `a portion of the bracket 46, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the spring being held against buckling by means of a rod that extends axially through it and is secured at its upper end in the bracket and is guided at its lower end in a holc in the feeler.Y The slots in which the links 45 move limitwthe downward movement of the feelers.

The plate 47 and the brackets 46-46 form what may be termed a feeler head in which the feelers 44 are supported for vertical normally held in a vdepressed position by --With 1 the stock.

Imovement independently ofeach other. The i'feeler head can reciprocate vertically:.andv it is guided byrfourY pins A5() secured to the plate `47 at pointsadjacent toitsfour corners, the pins beingamounted to; reciprocate in sockets secured to a part of the machine fframe.

One ofsaid sockets is shownvr at. 51,;Fig. 5.

fFor thefpurpose of movingtheafeelersup and dow-n into and outv of engagementwith :a lift of leather -which .has been fed under t-hemthe feeler headis connected by links .'52, Figs. 1, Qvand 5, to short arms-.

`'keyed to ay rock shaft 54' which is supported in brackets -55. This rock shaftalso has another arm 56, Fig. l, secured thereto,

,which is pivotally connected lwith the .upper vend ofa rod 57 thatprojectsfreely. through `a' hole .in the end ofal lever arm 58. A strong SpringvGO is interposedbetween tl1evar1n58 aand .a nut. on therlower end'of the rody 57, :While atube/Gl is interposed be-tween'the arm 58 andthe pivot head 62 through which the 1od157f is joined to the armj56. :The tube j6l encircles the rod 57 and acts Vas a spacing device to maintain .at alltimes a minimum tension on the spring 60.

T he .armS is onelarm of a bell crank lever {fulcrumed at 63, and vanother' ar-11164 of this lever carries a roll:,65 which runs` onl the: pe-

ripheryof a cam 661 fast on a shaft 159 driven bygear connections with the-shaft 33 pre- `viously referredto. A third arm 67 .of the bell crank lever carries a roll 68Eivhich runs on the peripheryof another cam 70, .also.se

Ycured-fast on the.` shaft y59. Gonsequently,

Las the high 'part of the cam -66 moves. under they 1101165, it. depresses the-arm` 58, thus acting through: the connections above :described to move the'feelers downwardlyf into contact The pressure with lwhich this mechanism moves thefeelerszinto contact with the yWork depends on' the degree. to which the spring is compressed. VThe ffeelers, however, are pressed firmly against ypart of the lift that it engages. Fig. 12 shows approximately the relative positionswhieh the feelers maybe expected tovassume in lfeeling'of a typicallift. Thellift is sup- 'ported oir the tableQ() during this operat-ion,

and the cam mechanism gradually brings the vfeelers down on to theV liftand then increasesl the pressure on the-m up'to a certain maaimunn maintaining' this maximum pressure l'for a substantial periodof time.

The roll then passes olf from the-high-portion vof the cam 66, andV the cam70 neXtacts through 4the roll 68 andlever arm 67 to mise-the feelers-.outof f engagement Iwith the lift of leather .-Whichhas .just been acted upon.

The lift which has now Vbeen subjectedto feed slide' 22 and vnormally-heldin. a raised Y position by means oflthe spring Q4 previously referred to. 'During the backward stroke ofthe feed slide, the pawl or dog 72 is depressed byitscontact with the lift jivhich isthen being acted upon by thefeeler mechanism, but it rises as soon as it'passes `out from under this lift so that upon the next forward stroke of the feed slide it -Will push this"A lift of leather forward to the evening mechanism. l Y 'The-evenmgmechanism comprises upper -andloiver rolls 74 and A75,.respectively, the

upper lroll preferably havinga.-roughened or milled peripheral surface' to enable itbetter to grip the lifts of leather. This upper roll is supported at its opposite ends in bearingblocks which vare mountedto slide in vertical guideways, eachbloek being depressed by a strong spri-ng 76. 'The movement of. each blockl under the influence of the springs 76-76 islimited by a bolt 77 which is fastened in the block and projects upwardly through the housing for the spring andhas nuts 7'8-78 threaded thereon. The lower roll is similarly supported at its opposite endsin blocks-80niounte`d to slide in vertical guideways forme'din vthe machine frame, andeach blo'ckfisV normally held in .araised position by means of a ycoiled spring-81. -The springs 81 are made very much `lighter than the springs'76 so that when a lift offleather is fed between the'rolls 74 and 75 the lower roll "75 will yiel'd.-wl1ile thc upper roll remains in substa-ntially la fixedposition, so far as'bo'dily movementis concerned, until the depression y of the loiver roll is arrested. The tivo rolls just'i'nentioned feedtthe stock against the edge of a stationary knife 82 secured by rscreivs''in'a knife holder 84 which isflixed in themachine frame.

For the purpose of driving the upper kroll the main shaft 33, previously referred to. has a sprocket86 mounted on one end thereof and this sprocket isvconnected by a chain.

indicated dia-grammatically at 87, Fig. l. and shown more 1n detail in'Figs. 2 and 3, with another sprocket wheel 88 mounted on a shaftl 89 which also carries a gear 90v meshing With :another gear91 which is secured to the shaft ofthe roll 74. The lower roll 75 is driven through .a gear 206. Figs. 2 vand 3. which is secured directly to the. shaft offthe roll. this gear meshing with a floating pinion .207 which.. ini turn, meshes with afp-i-n-ion 208 secured on` the mam shaft yguide this pinion.

As above stated, connections are provided between the feeler mechanism and the evening mechanism to enable theformer mechn anism to control the operation of the latter mechanism. rlhe control is sueh that the evening mechanism splits or skives each lift of leather to a thickness equal to that of the thinnest portion of the lift engaged by the feelers. This connecting` mechanism comprises two vertical plates 93--98 each mounted. to move up and down and having horizontal upper edges Vwhich engage, respectively, with the lower ends ofthe twoY groups of feelers. The plates are held in contact with the feelers by springs 591-911. The `ends of one of the pla 93 are connected by links 95 and 90, Fig. 5, to sectors 97 and 98, respectively, which mesh with each other. whileI the two ends of the other plate are connected by links 99 and 100 to arms 101.and 102` respectively, that are rigidly secured to the respective sectors 97 and 98. -Tlie'sectors are pivoted to frame members at 103 and 10a, respectively, Fig. 5. This arrangement guides the two plates 98-93 for movement in pa r-allel vertical paths and, at the same time, compels the two plates to move in unison.

lhen the feelers are brought down Vinto contact with a lift of leather the plates 93-93 are depressed by their engagement with the feelers, the springs Sla-91 holding the plates upwardly in contact with the feelers. Thefplates thus rwill be forced down toa position determined by the feeler which occupies the lowest position at this moment; or, in other words. by the feeler which is in engagement with the thinnest portion of the lift. If a feeler ofone group engages a thinner point than a fceler of the opposite group, the former feeler will control the verticel position of both plates 93,-93 due to the link and sector connections described above. f

One of the plates 93 vis connected by a link 107, Figs. 1, 2lanil 5, to a rack 108 which is mounted to slide in a vertical guideway. This rack meshes with a` n'iutilated gear 109 whichis secured to a rock shaft 110. The teeth of this gear at the opposite side of its axis from the rack 108 engage toothed slide 112 which is guided on a vertical pin or rod 114: that depends fron'i one of the bearing blocks for the lower roll 75. The rock shaft 110 alsor carries another gear meshing with a similar toothed slide 112' (not shown) guided on a pin tlmt projects from the opposite bearing' block 80 for the roll 75. Consequently, as the plates 98 98 are depressed by one or more of thefeelers as they make their thickness determination, this movement is transmitted through the rack 108 and gear 109 to the slides 112, setting these slides in a vertical position that depends upon the vertical position of the plates 93-93.` This, in turn, depends upon the position of the feeler engaging the thin? nest portion of the lift. ltshonld be noted that this adjustment of the slides is made by the fcelers. An arm 115, Fig. 1, carries a pawl 116 which engages the teeth of a rack or ratchet 117, this rack being secured fast to one -side of the machine frame. The pawl thus acts through the connections with the slides 112 to lock these slides in the positions to which they have been adjusted by their connections with the feeler 'mechanisnr The slides remain locked in their adjusted positions while the evening operation on a lift is being performed, and the pawl 116 is then moved out of engagement with the rack 117 and held out of engagement therewith while the connections-are being readjusted for the Vfeeling operation on another lift. For this purpose the tail of the pawl 116 carries a pin 118, Fig. 1, which runs in a slot 119 formed in the head of a lever 120. This lever is supported partly by a link 121 and partly by one arm of a lever 122 which is fulcrnmed at 128 andcarries a roll 124 running Aon the periphery of a camr 125. Tie high part of this cam swings the ylever 122 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 1, thus moving the pawl out of engagement with the rack 117.

It will now be understood that when the machine is in operation, each forward nievement of the feeder will carry one lift out of vthe bottom of the magazine and presentit to the feeler mechanism, at Vthe same time carrying the lift which has just been subjected to the operation of thev feelers forward to the evening mechanism. 'Y The feel. ing and evening operationsy vare performed while the feeder makes its return or backward stroke. It may here be noted that as the feeder delivers a lift to the evening mechanism, the feeder may move faster than the eveningmechanism can take the lift, and in order to compensate for any differencein the natural travel of the feederand the lift, the feed lever 25 preferably ismounted on a yielding fulcrum. will be seen that the fulcrum 26 for this lever is on the end of a rod 128 which telescopes within a tube v129 pivoted on the frame at 130. A spring 131 is interposed between the tube and the end of the rod 128 and tends to push the rod out of the tube, this movement, however, beinglimited by a screw or pin 182 which is set into the rod and slides in a slot formedin the Iupper side of the tube. any abnormal resistance, the eccentric pin 28, whichoperates the slide, will swing the lower end of the lever 25v toward the right,

Fig. 1, thus compressing the spring 181 and If the feed slide meets withV Referring to Figa it 4 Vof the same connecting mechanism by which over a short inclined apron 183, Figs. and

` or finger 198, Fig. 14, which lies back of the 10, and drops into a distributor or bucket 184. The iear wall 185 'of the bucket is pivoted within the body of the bucket at 186, Fig. 10, in such a manner that its lower end normally rests against the front of the bucket and thus keeps the bucket closed; and the weight of this movable wall is sufficient to hold it in its closed position notwithstanding the weight of a heel lift in the bucket.

The bucket is supported by two horizontal rods 187 and 188 between which it is mounted,

the bucket being secured at one side to a slide 189 which runs on the rod 187, and at its opposite side carrying a wheel 190 that runs on the rod 188. For the purpose of moving the bucket backward and forward to deliver thelift which it carries to the desired point,

the bucket is connected by means of a link 191 with the upper end of a lever 192, Figs. 1() and 14, which is fulcruined on the pin 198. Loosely mounted on this pin is a short arm or lever 194i, the upper end of which is connected by means ofra long rod 195, Figs. 10,14 and 2, to a block 196 which is pivoted on an eccentric pin projecting from a disk 197 which rotates with the gear wheel 30 previously referred to. This mechanism oscillates the arm 1911 in a path of fixed length, and the arm 194s carries an extension lever 192 and returns this lever at each oscillation of the arm 194tto the extreme righthand limit of its movement, as shown in Fig. 10. The two levers 19/1 and 192 .are con nected by a coiled spring 200, Fig. 1s, which is so tensioned that it tends to hold the lever 192, in contact with the finger 198, or, in other words, to make the two levers move in unison as the lever 194i swings toward the left, Fig. 10.

Assuming now that a heel lift has just been measured by the feeler mechanism, skived, and delivered to the bucket or distributor 1841;, and that the .stepped plate has been adjusted, as previously described, to a height determined by the thickness of the thinnest portion of the stock engaged by the feelers; the next operation consists in moving the bucket forward through the mechanism just described, the spring 200 producing this movement. At some point in the forward or left-hand movement,'F ig. 10, of the bucket, which point will be deterinined by the vertical position of the plate 170, an extension 201 projecting laterally from the lower'l end of the movable party of the bucket will strike one of the stepson the plate; and, as the bucket continues-to Imove forward, the movable wall of the bucket will be swung into its open. position, as

shown in Fig. 13, thus'releasing the lift car;

ried by the bucket and allowingthis lift to slide edgewise through the bottom ofthe bucket. This will result in discharging the lift into one of the chutesV 203, Fig. 10,;

formed in `an inverted hopper 204, over Vthe top of which the bucket moves. -These chutes lead to containers (not shown) which receive the lifts. As the arm 19d swings backwardly, the finger 198 will engage the lever 192 and return this lever, and with it in the-machine while it is in operation, the.

machine operates very rapidly, it being reinemberedthat the thickness determination is being made on one lift while another lift is being skived and distributed. The fact that the feelers are located closely adjacent to each other and engage the entire outer marginal surface of the heel lifts, ensures much greater accuracy of measurement, and consequently of evening, than has been possible in any prior machine of which I have been able to learn. A further condition contributing to the accuracy of the measurelili) ments made by this machine, is the fact thatk the thickness determinations aremade while the lift is stationary and is supportedon a rigid surface. Errors whichotherwise would be introduced by momentumfof the parts,

therefore, are eliminated.

In the specific machine `above described,

the feelers are arranged to engage'only `the* marginal portion ot a lift, and each lift subsequently is skived to the thickness of the thinnest portion of this margin. It is' possible that there may be a thinner spot in the central part of the lift, and, if desired, the feelers could be arranged to measurev the thickness of the central portions ofthe lift as well as the marginal portions. This usually is not necessary or desirable, however, because a thinner spot in the central part of the lift is immaterial. But it is'important that the margin of the lift. be of -a uniform thickness since,other.wise, when several of these lifts are assembled to form a heel, the

llk

irregularities in thickness will resultin producing a heel which is thicker on one side than on the other.

It Will readily/be appreciated that the invention may be embodied in a machine designed to act upon pieces of sheet-stock of different shape from. thosespecifically mentioned above, particularlyy cut soles, only minor changes in designfbeing required-for this purpose. p

Vilhile I have herein shown and described l the best embodimentof my invention which I haveso far devised, it Will be evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing froinits spirit or scope.

Having thus described my-invention, what I desire to claim as new is: f

v l- In a machine of the character described, the combination of feeler mechanism for detecting variations in the thickness of a piece of sheet stock, said mechanism coinprising arseries of feelers arranged to en- O'agethe stock simultaneously, said feelers being-individually movable inl conformity to .the thickness of the portions of the stock engagedithereby and being operative to detect the thinnest portion of the stock so engaged, a magazine for holding-a. supply of said pieces of stock, a rigid table for supporting thev pieces of stock While they are engagedby saidrfeelers, means for feeding the pieces. of stock one at a time from saidl magazine over the surface of said table and positioning them vfor engagement by said feelers, and additional means under control of said feeler mechanism and independent of said feeding means for subsequently-treating said pieces of stock in vaccordance with the thickness deterininat-ions made by'said feeler mechanism. v i

2.1n a machine of the character described, the combination of feelerfniechanisin forv detecting variations in the thickness of a piece of sheet stock, said mechanism coniprising a series of feelers arranged to engage the stock simultaneously and said feelers being individually `movable in conformity to the-thickness of the Yportions of the stock engaged thereby, a magazine for holding a supply of said pieces lof stock, mecha-` nism under the control `of said feeler mechanisin for `automatically treating the pieces of stock in accordance With the thickness determinations made by said feeler mechanism, and mechanism for automatically feeding a piece of stock out of said magazine and presenting it to said feeler mechanism and for simultaneously advancing another pieceiof stock previously acted upon by saidy feeler mechanism andr 'feeding it to said treating mechanism.

3. InA a machine of the character described, the combination of feel-er mechanism a piece? of sheet'` stock, said mechanism com-` prising a series of feelers arranged to cngage the stocksimultaneously and said vfeelers being` individually movable in conformity tothe thickness of the portions of the stock engaged thereby, a magazine for holding a supply offs-aid pieces ofstock, mecha.- nism under the control of saidfeeler mechanisin for automatically treatingthe pieces of stock in'accordance Withthe thickness `determinations made by said feeler mechanism5 two feeding devices operative one in advance of the. other to feed a piece of stock out of said magazine into position to be acted upon by said feeler mechanism and to advance aiiother piece of stock from-said position to` said treating mechanism, and a single operating mechanism for said feeding. devices.

t. Ina machine of the character described, the combination of feeler mechanism for detecting variations in the thickness of a piece of sheet stock,'said mechanism comprising :i series of feelers arranged to engage the stock simultaneously and said feelers being individually movable in conformity to the thickness ofthe portions of the stock engaged thereby, a magazine for holding a supply of said pieces of stock, mechanism under the pieces of stock one at a time out of' Vsaid magazine and position them for the operation ofsaid feelermcchanism, and the other feed dog acting simultaneously to cai'- ry a. piece of stock from thevfeeler mechanism; to said treating. mechanism.

5. Iii a machine for treating pieces otslieet stock, the combination of'niechanisii'i for detecting va iations linthe thickness of apiece of said stock comprisinga series of independently movable feelers, a commonv support for all of said feelers, springs acting individually on said feelers to hold them normally in a given relationship to' said support but enablingthem to be moved out of said relationship by contact with the stock, means for relatively moving said support and the stock to cause saidfeelers to make aV thickness determination of said stock of Vstock so acted upon, and connections between said feeler mechanism and said even'- ing mechanism for automatically` control-v durine a substantial portion two rolls for feeding the stock against the edge of said knife, one of said rollsbeing springk pressed toward the other, stops for limiting the movement of said spring pressed roll away from its companion roll, connections between said feeler mechanism and said stops for adjusting the stops in accordancewith the thickness determinations made by the feeler mechanism, pawl and ratchet mechanism for locking said stops in their adjusted positions, and means forl holding sa-id pawl and ratchet mechanism unlocked of each cycle of operations of the machine.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of feeler mechanism forv detecting variations in the thickness of a piece of sheet stock, a knife for skiving said pieces of stock, two rolls for feeding the pieces of stockagainst the edge of said knife, springs for pressing one of said rolls toward the other, means for limiting the movement of saidspring pressed roll away from the second roll, connections between said feeler mechanism and said means for adjusting said means in accordance with the thickness determinations made by said feeler mechanism, and springsfor yieldingly pressing said second roll toward its companion roll with a pressure materially greater than that exerted by the first vmentioned springs.

16. In a machine of the character described, thecombination of feeler mechanism for detecting variations in the thickness of a piece of sheet stock, said mechanism comprising a series of feelers individually movable in conformity to the thickness of the portions of the stock engaged thereby,

mechanism for feeding pieces of stock one at a time into position for the action thereon of said feelers, additional means for relatively moving said feelers and said sheet stock transversely of the pla-ne thereofk into operative engagement with each other to enable said feelers to make theirthickness determination while said feelers and stock are relatively stationary-a device arranged to engage a plurality of said feelers and to be moved thereby into a position determined by the feeler which engages the thinnest portion of the stock, additional mechanism for acting on said pieces of stock after they have been subjected to the action of said feelers, and connections independent of said feeding mechanism for causing said device to control the operation of said additional mechanism.

17., In a machine of the character defscribed, the combination of feeler mechanism for detecting variations in the thickness of a piece of sheet stock, said mechanism comprising two groups of feelers arranged to engage the work simultaneously, said feelers.

being individually movable in conformity to the thickness of the portions of the stock engaged thereby, means for supporting the stock while it is engaged by said feelers, two

devices mounted for engagement withv the'. vfeeiers of said respective groups and each arranged to be moved into a position determined by the feeler which engages the thinnest portion of the stock, additional mechanism for acting on the pieces of stock after'.

they have been subjected to the operation of said feeler mechanism, and connections Ybetween said devices and said additional mechanism for 'controlling the operation of said additional mechanism in accordance with the thickness determinations made by said feelers. j

1S. In a machine of the character described, the combination of feeler mechanism for detecting variations in the thickness of a piece of sheet stock, skiving mechanism for said pieces of stock comprising a knife and two rolls for feeding the stock against the edge of said knife, one of said rolls being spring pressed toward the other, stops for limiting the movement of said spring pressed roll away from its companion roll, positive connections between said feeler mechanism and said stops for adjusting the stops in accordance with the thickness determin-ations made by said feeler mechanism, and means for locking said stops in their adjusted positions.

19..In a machine of the character described, tlie combination of feelermechanism for detecting variations in thev thickness of a piece of sheet stock, skiving mechanism for said pieces of stock comprising a knife and two rolls for feeding the stock against the edgev of ,said knife, one of said rolls being spring pressedtoward the other, stops for limiting the movement of said springv pressed roll away from its companion roll, positive connections betweensaid feeler mechanism and said stops for adjusting the stops in accordance with the thickness determinations inade by said feeler mechanism, pawl and kratchet mechanism forlocking said stops in their adjusted positions, and power operated means for controlling the action of said pawl and ratchet mechanism.

20. In a machine of the characterdescribed,'the combination of feeler mecha-V spring pressed roll away from its companion roll, positive connections between said 'eeler mechanism and said stops for adjusting the stops in accordance with the thickness determinations made by said eeler mechanism, means for locking said stops in their adliusted positions, and spring means acting on said connections to return them and said stops to their initial positions when the stops are unlocked.

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of eeler mechanism for detecting variations in the thickness ot a piece of sheet stock, said. mechanism comprising two groups ot teelers arranged to engage the work simultaneously,

said eelers being individually movable in conformity to the thickness of the portions of the stock engaged thereby, means for supporting the stock while it is engaged by said leelers, two plates mounted 'for engagement with the t'celers of said respective groups, springs acting on said plates to hold them normally in engagement with said feelers, connections between said plates cansing them to move in unison, whereby both plates take a position determined by the eeler which engages the thinnest portion of the stock, additional mechanism tor acting on the pieces of stock after they have been subject-ed to the operation of said eeler mechanism, and connections between said plates and .said additional mechanism for adjusting said additional mechanism in accordance with the positions of said plates.

22. VIn a machine of the character described, the combination of eeler mechanism for detecting ariations in the thickness of a piece olf sheet stock, said mechanism comprising` a series of teelers arranged to engage the stock simultaneously, said feelers being individually movable in conformity to the thickness of the portions of the stock engaged thereby and being operative to detect the thinnest portion of the stock so engaged, mechanism for automatically feeding pieces ot stock one at a time into position for the engagement therewith of said feelers, a rigid support Yfor the stock while it is engaged by said 'eelers, and means for preventing said pieces of stock from twisting while they are being fed into said position.

28. In a machine of the character described, the combination ot a mechanism for detecting variations .in the thickness of a piece of sheet stock comprising' a series of independently movable teelers arranged in two groups, said feelers being mounted closely adjacent to each other and positioned for the engagement simultaneously with the marginal portion of said piece of stock, supporting means for said eelers enabling the two groups to be adjusted toward and from each other, additional mechanism for acting .upon the pieces of stock after the engagement therewith et said eelers, and connections between said feelers 'and said additional mechanism for controlling t-he operation of the latter mechanism in accordance with the thickness determinations made by said teelers.

24. ln a machine of' the character described, the combination 01"' feeler mechanism for detecting variations in the thickness oit a piece of sheet stock, said mechanism comprising a series of teelers arranged to engage the stock simultaneously and said i'eelers being individually movable in rcontormity to the thickness of the portions of the stock engaged thereby, mechanism for feeding pieces of stock one at a time into position for the engagement therewith of said teelers. a rigid table on which the stock is supported while it is engaged by said feelers, skiving mechanism for acting upon said pieces ot stock after they have been engaged by said feelers, means for relatively moving said leeler mechanism and the respective pieces ot stock into operative engagement with each other. andY connections between said skiving mechanism and said teeler mechanism for automatically setting the skiving mechanism to cause it to splitV the stock to substantially the thickness of the thinnest portion thereof engaged by said feelers.

25. Inka machine of the character Vdescribed, the combination of eeler'mechanism for detecting variations in the thickness of a piece of sheetstock, said mechanism comprising a series ot eelers individually movable in conformity totheithickness of the portions of the stock engaged thereby, means for relatively moving said eelers and said stock into operative engagement with each other to enable said 'l'eelers to measure the thickness of the thinnest portion oi the stockengaged by them while said` i'eelers and stock are relatively stationary,

mechanism tor evening` the pieces ot' stockl so acted upon, and connections between saidl eeler mechanism and said. evening *mechanism for automatically controlling the action of said evening mechanism in accordance with said thickness determination.

enonen L. SMITH. 

